mexico city
AP
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More than 300 communities in central and eastern Mexico remained cut off by deadly landslides and flooding on Tuesday, as thousands of soldiers and civilian workers scrambled to reopen blocked roads.
The government has confirmed that at least 64 people have died as a result of the heavy rains. Dozens of people remain missing and authorities warn that the full extent of the devastation in the remote town, home to between 500 and 1,000 residents, remains unclear.
The rains were caused by the convergence of two tropical cyclones off Mexico’s west coast and came at the end of an unusually heavy rainy season, flooding rivers and weakening hillsides.
President Claudia Sheinbaum said: “Reopening our roads is one of our greatest priorities.” “We have to make sure we have air bridges, food and water, and make sure everyone is safe.”
Health teams have started fumigating the affected areas to prevent the spread of dengue fever, which is spread by mosquitoes.
The worst-hit states are Veracruz, Hidalgo, and Puebla. In Hidalgo state alone, where about half of the isolated villages are located, around 100,000 homes were damaged or destroyed by river flooding and landslides. In Veracruz state, where at least 29 people died, rainfall reached 24 inches in just four days. Veracruz Governor Rocio Nare said more than 300,000 people were affected in his state alone.
Poza Rica resident Roberto Olvera said the refinery alert alerted him to rising water levels in the nearby Cazones River, reaching 13 feet (4 meters) in some areas.
“It was scary. A lot of people in the neighborhood couldn’t escape,” he said. The flooding also left behind a black, oily residue that appeared to have come from nearby oil and gas facilities, covering trees and roofs.
Floodwaters reached 2 meters (6.5 feet) and damaged dozens of health centers, including the health center in Alamo, Veracruz state, where all equipment was destroyed. Local health director Marti Batres said medical staff are currently working outdoors.
Thousands of soldiers and rescue teams are searching for missing people and delivering relief supplies, while helicopters are transporting supplies to isolated areas and private construction companies are helping to reopen major roads.
Scheinbaum said there were sufficient resources to respond and the government “will spare no expense during this emergency.”
